The Philadelphia Eagles are making a major shake-up under center, officially benching Tanner McKee and handing the reins to Joe Milton III, according to reports from ESPN. Talk about a turn-around! This news dropped just days after Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni flat-out told reporters on Monday afternoon that McKee was “our guy” and a change at quarterback was not on the table. You know how coaches talk, right? Well, apparently, things move fast in the NFL.
From ‘Our Guy’ to the Sidelines
Let’s be real, it has not been a smooth ride for the Eagles’ quarterback situation this season. Tanner McKee was pressed into service because Jalen Hurts is out for the entire season due to blood clots. And, honestly, McKee hasn’t exactly lit up the scoreboard. He is 0-3 as a starter this season, with just two touchdowns thrown against two interceptions, and a 76.6 passer rating. Now, in fairness, the coaching staff and a bunch of injuries to key offensive starters did him no favors. But it wasn’t like the Eagles were head-over-heels for McKee to begin with; he started the season as the third-string quarterback behind Hurts and veteran Andy Dalton.
Remember Andy Dalton? He was the No. 2 guy, but the Eagles cut him after he threw an interception on his lone pass attempt back in Week 3. Wild, right? Later, when Hurts’ injury outlook worsened, the Eagles even tried to bring the 39-year-old Dalton back. But he reportedly declined that offer, choosing to join the Atlanta Falcons instead. That rejection forced the Eagles to sign Joe Milton III off the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad, just to get some depth behind McKee. Milton started as the emergency third quarterback behind McKee and rookie Cole Payton in Week 6, then moved ahead of Payton to become McKee’s backup in Week 7. Now, he’s the starter.
Unleashing the Cannon: Who is Joe Milton III?
So, who is Joe Milton III, the man taking over under center? He is roughly two months older than the 26-year-old McKee, and he brings some serious physical intrigue. The guy is a big frame at 6’5″, 235 pounds. His pre-draft scouting report from NFL.com painted a picture of raw, tantalizing talent, mixed with some head-scratching inconsistencies. It says he is a “rare physical specimen with the proverbial ‘arm talent to make all the NFL throws,’ but he’s prevented from doing so by a lack of timing, accuracy and touch.”
Yeah, you read that right. He has a cannon for a right arm and can absolutely launch the ball, but his “fastballs are often inaccurate and difficult to catch for moving targets,” and his deep throws were “wildly inconsistent.” The report also notes he can escape pressure and create highlight-reel plays, but he just has not matured his game from “splashy to consistent.” He is primarily a single-side reader who struggles to improvise. Despite the “lack of development over six seasons,” his physical gifts were enough to get him drafted on Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft, when the New England Patriots took him with a sixth-round pick, No. 193 overall.
This isn’t just a personnel change; it’s a desperate gamble. With Jalen Hurts out for the season, the Eagles are now fully committed to seeing what Milton can do. Can his raw talent translate into consistent wins? Eagles fans are about to find out if the cannon arm can outweigh the accuracy questions.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleeding Green Nation.
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